What is the difference between Armadillo and pangolin?
Armadillo and pangolin are two different animals from different families. They have a similar type of defensive mechanism against their predators. They both have external shields. The covering on their bodies is hard in that the predators cannot find their way into their bodies.
The main difference between armadillo and pangolin is that armadillo is a family of mammals while pangolin belongs to an order of mammals.
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Comparison Table (Armadillo vs Pangolin)
| Characteristics | Armadillo | Pangolin |
| Classification | They belong to the family Dasypodidae. | They belong to the family Manidae. |
| Size | They are comparatively larger. | They are smaller in body size. |
| Geographical location | They are found in America only. | They are found in Africa and Asia. |
| Climate | They prefer a warm or temperate climate. | They prefer a tropical climate. |
| External covering | They have skin-covered rigid bony shields over the body. | They have large keratin scales covering the skin. |
| What they feed on | They feed on ants, beetles, termites, and other insects. | They feed on ants and termites. |
| Reproduction | The females undergo delayed implantation and give birth to four offspring. | The female gives birth to only one offspring. |
| Behavior | They are social animals. | They are solitary animals only coming together during mating. |
| Habitat | They live in warm places including grasslands, semi-deserts, and other forested areas. | They inhabit sandy habitats such as dry woodlands, tropical forests, and savannah. |
What is Armadillo?
Armadillo is a mammal found in the family Dasypodidae. There are almost 20 living species. They are found in America. Their name means little armored. They inhabit a variety of different environments which include warm places such as grasslands, semi-deserts, and other forested areas.
They have a protective shell on their body made up of rigid bony shields. They have sharp claws for digging. The integument is one of the characteristic features that distinguish them. They have long tails and short limbs. They have tiny pointed eyes, long-tube shaped snouts.
They mate in late summer. The females undergo delayed implantation whereby the fertilized egg floats freely in the uterus for about 3 to 4 months. The female then gives birth to 4 offspring.
What is Pangolin?
Pangolin is scaly anteaters of the placental mammal. They are distinguished from other mammals by the scaly skin that possesses a covering of epidermal scales growing from a thick underlying skin. They inhabit sandy places such as dry woodlands, tropical forest, and savannah. They are found in Africa and Asia.
Pangolins do not have teeth instead they have powerful muscles and small pebbles in their stomachs to grind the food. They mainly rely on ants and termites.
They are solitary animals hence they only come together during the mating season. The mating is usually once a year during the summer or autumn season. The tails of males and females are entwined during copulation. Their gestation period is 140 days and the female gives birth to only one offspring.
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Main Differences between Armadillo and Pangolin
- Armadillo’s stomachs churn and break down the food while pangolins do not have teeth instead, they have powerful muscles and small pebbles in their stomach to grind the food.
- Armadillo is comparatively bigger in body size while pangolins are smaller in body size.
- Armadillo is only found in America while pangolins are found in Africa and Asia.
- Armadillos have skin covered rigid bony shield over the body while pangolins have large keratin scales covering the body.
- Armadillo experience delayed implantation and they give rise to 4 offspring while pangolins give rise to one offspring.
- Armadillo prefers warm places while pangolins prefer sandy places.
- During the day armadillo stays inside burrows while pangolins stay curled up into a ball on the ground.
Similarities between Armadillo and Pangolin
- They both have external covering.
- They both feed on ants and termites.
- They both sleep during the daytime.
- They are both toothless.
- They both have long tongues.
In Conclusion
Armadillos and pangolins are animals that have outer covering as they external shield to keep them away from their predators. Armadillos have rigid bony shields while pangolins have large keratin scales covering the body. The main feature that makes the armadillo different from the pangolins is the classification. Armadillo belongs to the family Dasypodidae while pangolin belongs to the family Manidae.
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